Potential and opportunities for Vietnam-MERCOSUR cooperation 2025

Ambassador Bui Van Nghi affirmed that Brazil is Vietnam's largest partner in MERCOSUR and the relationship between the two countries has made many important strides.

On September 16, in the capital city of Brasília, the Vietnamese Embassy in Brazil organized a workshop on “Potentials and opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam and MERCOSUR 2025” to exchange, learn and absorb ideas to strengthen relations and cooperation between Vietnam and Brazil, MERCOSUR countries as well as other friendly countries in Latin America.

The workshop was attended by more than 60 delegates, including many Brazilian federal officials and parliamentarians, ambassadors and representatives of embassies of MERCOSUR countries and countries where the Vietnamese Embassy concurrently serves, scholars, press, business community, students of foreign trade and international relations.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi spoke at the workshop "Potential and opportunities for Vietnam-MERCOSUR cooperation 2025".

The workshop was attended and delivered speeches by Mr. Inácio Arruda, Vice Minister in charge of Science and Technology for Social Development (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil), President of the Brazil-Vietnam Friendship Association (ABRAVIET); Mr. Paco Britto, Director of Foreign Affairs of the capital city of Brasília. Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Brazil Pham Hong Trang attended online from the city of São Paulo.

In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi emphasized that with a large geographical area of ​​over 14 million square kilometers, rich and diverse natural resources, a population of over 300 million people and a GDP of over 2,900 billion USD, MERCOSUR is not only a model of deep, vibrant and effective regional integration, but also a strategically important partner of Vietnam in the context of globalization and increasingly deep interdependence between regions and economies , but there are new difficulties and challenges arising in trade and international economic cooperation, requiring a change in thinking, strengthening cooperation between regions, diversifying and multilateralizing global supply chains, production and consumption.

The Ambassador also reviewed Vietnam's outstanding economic achievements such as GDP in 2024 reaching 476.3 billion USD; stable growth rate of 6-7%/year; trade in the first 8 months of 2025 reaching nearly 600 billion USD, trade surplus of nearly 14 billion USD.

Regarding Vietnam-Brazil relations, Ambassador Bui Van Nghi affirmed that Brazil is Vietnam's largest partner in MERCOSUR and together the two countries have achieved many important steps such as establishing a Strategic Partnership (November 2024), Brazil recognizing Vietnam as a market economy and opening its agricultural market to each other (March 2025).

Bilateral trade increased from 200 million USD in 2000 to nearly 8 billion USD in 2024, accounting for 35% of total Vietnam-Latin America trade. The two sides aim for 15 billion USD by 2030.

The workshop was attended by more than 60 delegates, including many Brazilian federal officials and parliamentarians, ambassadors and representatives of embassies of MERCOSUR countries...

Ambassador Bui Van Nghi emphasized that with the strategic partnership, high political trust, and mutually complementary economies, Vietnam and Brazil need to frankly share to jointly resolve difficulties, while enhancing understanding of the market, connecting business associations, and promoting the participation and support of Brazilian parliamentarians and federal and state government officials.

In particular, during Brazil's term as the rotating President of MERCOSUR, initiating negotiations towards an Agreement to promote economic cooperation and free trade (FTA) in line with the common interests of both sides is extremely practical and strategic.

At the same time, the exchange of government, parliamentary and business delegations between Vietnam and MERCOSUR countries needs to be promoted, in order to take advantage of opportunities for two-way economic, trade and investment cooperation.

Even in seemingly competitive fields, such as coffee, they are actually complementary, so the exchange and complementarity of goods between MERCOSUR and Vietnam, as a bridge to ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region, will contribute to expanding trade, import and export, bringing practical benefits to businesses and people of the countries involved.

The Ambassador also emphasized the potential and prospects for cooperation with Latin American countries such as Bolivia (lithium, copper, tungsten), Peru and Guyana (oil and gas, minerals), Suriname (agriculture, fisheries, eco-tourism). At the same time, he called for promoting negotiations on the Vietnam-MERCOSUR Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to diversify markets and strengthen strategic trust.

Commercial Counselor Pham Hong Trang affirmed that the Vietnam-MERCOSUR relationship is facing great opportunities.

Continuing the Ambassador's words, Trade Counselor Pham Hong Trang, Head of the Trade Representative Office of Vietnam in Brazil, shared that the Vietnam-MERCOSUR relationship is facing great opportunities with good foundations, clear economic complementarities, and shared aspirations for sustainable development.

With the political support of the two governments, the support of the business community, and the common determination for a fair and mutually beneficial relationship, Vietnam and MERCOSUR can completely start by building a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), then gradually upgrade it to a comprehensive FTA. This will be a feasible roadmap and reduce pressure on both sides.

Deputy Minister Inácio Arruda stressed the importance of strengthening relations between the South American bloc and the Southeast Asian region.

Representing the federal government, Brazilian Vice Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Inácio Arruda stressed the importance of strengthening relations between the South American bloc and the Southeast Asian region and diversifying markets and production chains as essential steps to expand cooperation between Brazil and Vietnam.

Deputy Minister Inácio Arruda said that the process of economic integration needs to go hand in hand with strategic initiatives to increase resilience and complementarity between the two regions. In this spirit, the partnership between South America and Vietnam can open new horizons in many key sectors such as agriculture, energy and high-tech industries.

In particular, Deputy Minister Inácio Arruda proposed that Brazil and Vietnam should further promote bilateral cooperation in the field of science and technology, not only stopping at political, diplomatic and trade exchanges, but also regularly organizing scientific exchange delegations. These activities will be an important foundation to strengthen the long-term, strategic partnership between the two countries.

Director of Foreign Affairs of the capital city of Brasília Paco Britto said that between what Vietnam has and what MERCOSUR needs, there is a natural reciprocity.

Director of Foreign Affairs of the capital city of Brasília Paco Britto highly appreciated Vietnam's prominent role in the Asian region, emphasizing that Vietnam is "a strategic center with a young, dynamic population, with strengths in technology, agriculture and renewable energy".

Mr. Paco Britto believes that there is a natural reciprocity between what Vietnam has and what MERCOSUR needs: Vietnam exports technology, textiles, electronics and processed foods; while MERCOSUR supplies cereals, meat, fruits, wine and energy solutions. Brasília, as the center of South American diplomacy, can become a meeting point connecting Vietnam with MERCOSUR in politics, economics, academia and cultural exchanges.

JBS Group Investment Director Fabio Maia informed that JBS has officially opened trade flows with Vietnam when the first container of JBS Brazilian beef arrived in Vietnam, while JBS imported tilapia from Vietnam to the Brazilian market.

Representing the business sector, Mr. Fabio Maia, Investment Director of JBS Group - the world's largest food company, affirmed that JBS has officially opened trade flows with Vietnam when the first container of JBS Brazilian beef arrived in Vietnam, while JBS imported tilapia from Vietnam to the Brazilian market.

Notably, JBS has approved an investment plan to build a meat processing plant in Vietnam, aiming to turn Vietnam into an export center to all of Asia, especially China and ASEAN.

“We see that Vietnamese consumers are changing rapidly, looking for convenient, safe and quality products. This is the central driving force behind this strategic investment,” Mr. Fabio Maia emphasized.

Director Fabio Maia also thanked the Vietnamese Embassy in Brazil for its support and affirmed that JBS is committed to accompanying Vietnam's sustainable development.

Delegates participated in the question and answer session of the Workshop.

The workshop took place simultaneously with the MERCOSUR Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro - where the priorities of Brazil's rotating presidency, signing the MERCOSUR - European Union FTA after 15 years, and promoting cooperation in security, human rights, and fighting poverty were discussed.

In that context, Vietnam's proactive enhancement of dialogue with MERCOSUR shows that economic diplomacy plays a bridging role, helping to diversify markets and create more momentum for the partnership between the two regions.

Delegates attending the workshop took a souvenir photo.

Following the success of the Workshop in attracting the attention of the Brazilian government to Vietnam, on the morning of September 17, at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy in Brasília, Ambassador Bui Van Nghi received Mr. Márcio Honáiser, Federal Member of Parliament and Mr. José Gonçalves Lima, Mayor of Davinópolis City, Maranhão State.

The Brazilian side presented the development potential of the state of Maranhão and the Matopiba region, in particular the need for cooperation in agriculture (soybeans, corn, cotton and ethanol) as well as the strategic location of the Davinópolis Dry Port in the national logistics system.

Ambassador Bui Van Nghi received Mr. Márcio Honáiser, Federal Member of Parliament and Mr. José Gonçalves Lima, Mayor of Davinópolis City, Maranhão State.

Mayor José Gonçalves Lima wishes to invite the Ambassador to visit the state and extend an invitation to Vietnam to participate in investment, cooperation, management and exchange of port exploitation experiences.

Ambassador Bui Van Nghi affirmed that Vietnam is interested in promoting cooperation in the fields of agriculture, food security and bioenergy, and proposed coordination between the National Assembly, government and business community of the two countries to support and promote negotiations on the Vietnam-MERCOSUR Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tiem-nang-va-co-hoi-hop-tac-viet-nam-mercosur-2025-328019.html